Grabbed by the neck - Movistar rider creates altercation with Matteo Jorgenson after Tirreno-Adriatico finale

Altercations during or right after cycling races are not a thing of the past, and although TV broadcast or spectators didn't capture footage of it, after the the end of stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico it has been reported that Movistar's Javier Romo looked to assault Matteo Jorgenson of Team Visma | Lease a Bike.

The incident reportedly happened after the finish of the stage near the Visma bus. According to Bram Vandecapelle of Het Laatste Nieuws the Spaniard was unhappy with a movement of Jorgenson during the race, and following the finish he went to the Visma bus where he then grabbed Jorgenson by the back of the neck as well as insulting him verbally. Movistar DS Max Sciandri would then break apart the Spaniard, also a contender for the overall classification, who was said to be furious. Jorgenson is said to have shouted 'adios' (goodbye in Spanish) to Romo as he entered the team bus afterwards.

It is not fully known what the cause for the incident was, but taking into consideration both riders were in the mix for the overall classification and present in the GC group until the final climb to Camerino, it might have been in a battle for positioning. Jorgenson was third on the stage and is in the same position in the overall classification whilst Romo sits 12th into the final day of racing.

Recently at the Ster van Zwolle, NSN Development Team rider Kiaan Watts punched Marijn Maas which resulted in a disqualification from the race. At the current Tirreno-Adriatico there was also an interesting incident in which Ethan Hayter lifted his middle finger to a cameraman during the opening time-trial of the race, which led him to be fined. Jorgenson himself was not involved in an altercation, but during last year's Tour de France was open about the frustration of being followed directly by Tadej Pogacar on all his attacks.